We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Libby Daugherty-Cortes a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Libby, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

My ultimate goal as a dance instructor is to inspire my students to seek their fullest potential whether it be performing on stage or becoming an instructor themselves. Being a part of each person’s dance journey is a joy as I get to watch them transform as their skills increase and their confidence builds. I hope the legacy that I leave behind in my city’s dance scene is that it became a community of people who are inclusive, diverse, and encouraging of one another.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Libby Daugherty-Cortes and I have been teaching dance and fitness in the Lexington, KY area for almost 11 years. I started my journey in 2013 when I became a Zumba instructor. I quickly fell in love with Latin rhythm and began training at local dance studios in Salsa and Bachata. Through the years, I also taught other formats such as bootcamps, yoga, and aqua aerobics along with Hip Hop inspired heels classes. For a majority of my career I have taught at the city’s most prestigious fitness facility called Lexington Athletic Club. This space has provided me opportunity to grow as an instructor and also as a manager over the fitness classes offered. In 2021, I officially opened my own dance company called Sassy Wellness with Libby where I offer Bachata, Salsa, Cumbia, Hip Hop, and Heels classes on a monthly basis. I utilize Lexington Athletic Club’s studio as my home base for all of my classes. My husband and I also host Latin dance socials twice a month at local restaurants and venues so that my students have space to practice what they have learned in class in a fun and festive environment.
As of late, I have formed a Latin Fusion Performance Team that performs around the county including The Mountain Fiesta in Tennessee, the Latino Festival in Lexington, KY, and the Atlanta Salsa Bachata Festival in Atlanta, GA.
My next big project is creating Lexington’s first Latin dance competition which is projected to happen at the end of April in 2024.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I have an incredibly hard time disconnecting from my work when I am at home. I have found myself in situations where I am trying to spend time with my family but also am still thinking about work. I had to create a rule for myself that I am not allowed to open my laptop at home unless it is an emergency. I have a lot of administrative work that I do on my own for my business so I go to local coffee shops to work on that. Once I am done, I go home and put the laptop away.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Collaboration has one hundred percent built my reputation in my market. The dance industry is very cut-throat and it is easy to be in competition with other dance studios. I have found that by reaching out and inviting other instructors to teach either a workshop at my studio or a class at a social has helped build bridges in the local community. A lot of students cross over and attend classes at multiple studios. Collaborations helps ease any tension a student may feel about learning from multiple instructors.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sassywellnesswithlibby.com
• Instagram: @Libbythedancer
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SassyWellnesswithLibby
• Other: Email: Libby@sassywellnesswithlibby.com

Image Credits
Jo Mackby